Episode Overview: In this powerful episode of the "Walk With Me" podcast, Joe Rosado shares his incredible journey of resilience, self-healing, and growth. From childhood trauma and loss to overcoming addiction and embracing holistic healing, Joe’s story is a testament to the power of transformation. Join us as Joe reflects on his life’s challenges, the lessons learned, and how he now helps others through his work in medical cannabis and addiction recovery.

Key Topics Covered:

• Joe's Early Life and Trauma: Joe begins by sharing his childhood in the Bronx, his experience with physical abuse, and the emotional scars that shaped his worldview. His traumatic experiences at a young age set the foundation for much of his emotional struggles later in life.
• Loss and Beliefs About Love: At the age of 11, Joe's father’s sudden death led to deep emotional beliefs about abandonment and loss, which impacted his future relationships and choices.
• The Healing Journey: Joe’s path to healing started in his early 40s when he took a deep dive into understanding his trauma, behaviors, and emotional struggles. Through therapy and personal reflection, he started to unravel the beliefs and patterns that shaped his life.
• Addiction and Recovery: Joe opens up about his struggles with alcohol, the moment he realized he needed help, and the crucial role that community support played in his recovery. His commitment to his own healing journey reflects his understanding of addiction’s complexities.
• Medical Career and Healing: With a lifelong dream of being a physician, Joe worked his way through various medical roles, from an orderly to a chiropractor, before becoming a medical doctor. He reflects on how his experiences as both a healthcare provider and a patient have shaped his approach to healing others.
• The Role of Medical Cannabis and Ketamine: Joe shares his work as a medical cannabis physician and his use of alternative treatments, including ketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. His approach combines his clinical expertise and personal healing journey to help others overcome trauma, addiction, and mental health struggles.
• Empathy in Medicine: Through his personal experiences, Joe has gained a deep understanding of what it means to be a patient, allowing him to empathize with his own patients who are navigating addiction, mental health challenges, and recovery.

Quotable Insights:

• “Healing is a lifelong journey, and the most important step is the one we take to begin it.”
• “Resilience is key, but we don’t do it alone. It’s the people around us, the tribe, that helps us heal.”
• “The only difference between you and me is that you're sitting on that side of the desk and I'm sitting on this side.”
• “Cannabis is medicine. It has the power to help people heal, both physically and emotionally.”

Connect with Joe: https://josephrosadomd.com/meet-dr-joseph-rosado/